A social media influencer outspoken over matters impacting Lowndes County has filed a lawsuit against the county commission alleging retaliation for exercising her First Amendment rights and violation of Alabama’s Open Meetings Act. Arlene Richardson, attorney for plaintiff Gwen Johnson, served notice of the case to the commission at its meeting on Monday, June 22.
Richardson told commissioners that Chairman Charlie King, Jr., on behalf of the body, infringed on Johnson’s constitutional right to free speech by sending her a “cease-and-desist” letter. According to the attorney, a review of the group’s meeting minutes showed no evidence of commissioners ever voting to send Johnson a letter.
“Miss Johnson got a letter from the Lowndes County Commissioner Charlie King written on Commission letterhead saying it was on behalf of the Commission, although from my personal observations it looked to me like a lot of commissioners had not seen the letter,” she said…